Department of Organic Chemistry · Commenius University in Bratislava

Photochemistry of Small Organic Molecules

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Field of research is focused on photochemistry of small organic molecules with simple synthetic preparation and their use as detectors or information carrying agents. We combine synthesis, spectroscopy, and computational chemistry to understand and design new functional molecules.

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Latest updates from the group

14Nov

New paper published in JACS

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Group Members

Meet the team behind the research

RNDr. Marek Cigáň, PhD.

RNDr. Marek Cigáň, PhD.

MSc. Juraj Filo, PhD.

MSc. Juraj Filo, PhD.

MSc. Bernard Mravec, PhD.

MSc. Bernard Mravec, PhD.

doc. RNDr. Peter Magdolen, Phd.

Doc. RNDr. Peter Magdolen, Phd.

PharmDr. Ivica Sigmundová, PhD.

PharmDr. Ivica Sigmundová, PhD.

MSc. Lea Hegedüšová, PhD.

MSc. Lea Hegedüšová, PhD.

BSc. Martin Kovalčín

BSc. Martin Kovalčín

BSc. Lenka Dzurňaková

BSc. Lenka Dzurňaková

BSc. Alex Sedlařík

BSc. Alex Sedlařík

Daniel Volčko

Daniel Volčko

Igor Bodnár

Igor Bodnár

Sofia Huliar

Sofia Huliar

Research

Our scientific focus areas

Our research is centred on the design, synthesis, and photophysical characterisation of functional organic molecules. We aim to understand structure–property relationships governing photoinduced processes and to exploit these for practical applications in photonics, sensing, and bioimaging.

Photoswitches

We develop molecular photoswitches based on azobenzenes, diarylethenes, and hydrazones that reversibly isomerise upon irradiation, enabling information storage and stimuli-responsive materials.

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Fluorescent Dyes

Design of push-pull fluorophores and ESIPT-active compounds with tuneable emission profiles for bioimaging probes and optoelectronic applications.

Publications

Selected peer-reviewed articles

Isatin N-Phenylsemicarbazone: Effect of Substituents and Concentration on Anion Sensing Selectivity and Sensitivity

Cigáň M., Jakusová K., Donovalová J., Szöcs V., Gáplovský A. · RSC Advances · 2014 · DOI: 10.1039/c4ra04847d

Coumarin Phenylsemicarbazones: Sensitive Colorimetric and Fluorescent "Turn-On" Chemosensors for Low-Level Water Content in Aprotic Organic Solvents

Cigáň M., Gašpar J., Gáplovská K., Holekšiová J., Jakusová K., Donovalová J., Garaj V., Stankovičová H. · New Journal of Chemistry · 2016 · DOI: 10.1039/C6NJ01639A

7-Dialkylaminocoumarin Oximates: Small Molecule Fluorescent "Turn-On" Chemosensors for Low-Level Water Content in Aprotic Organic Solvents

Cigáň M., Horváth M., Filo J., Jakusová K., Donovalová J., Garaj V., Gáplovský A. · Molecules · 2017 · DOI: 10.3390/molecules22081340

Photoswitching Behavior of 5-Phenylazopyrimidines: In Situ Irradiation NMR and Optical Spectroscopy Combined with Theoretical Methods

Cigáň M. et al., Procházková E. · Journal of Organic Chemistry · 2018 · DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b00569

Tautomeric Photoswitches: Anion-Assisted Azo/Azine-to-Hydrazone Photochromism

Filo J., Tisovský P., Csicsai K., Donovalová J., Gáplovský M., Gáplovský A., Cigáň M. · RSC Advances · 2019 · DOI: 10.1039/C9RA02906K

Benzoylpyridine Hydrazones: Photoswitching Properties and Ultrasound-Assisted Crystallization

Mravec B., Filo J., Csicsai K., Garaj V., Kemka M., Marini A., Mantero M., Bianco A., Cigáň M. · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2019 · DOI: 10.1039/C9CP04665H

Isatinphenylsemicarbazones as Efficient Colorimetric Sensors for Fluoride and Acetate Anions — Anions Induce Tautomerism

Tisovský P., Horváth M., Csicsai K., Donovalová J., Filo J., Cigáň M., Sokolík R., Addová G., Gáplovský A. · Molecules · 2019 · DOI: 10.3390/molecules24030432

Polysubstituted 5-Phenylazopyrimidines: Extremely Fast Non-ionic Photochromic Oscillators

Čechová L., Filo J., Dračínský M., Slavov C., Sun D., Janeba Z., Slanina T., Wachtveitl J., Procházková E., Cigáň M. · Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2020 · DOI: 10.1002/anie.202007065

Design of High-Performance Pyridine/Quinoline Hydrazone Photoswitches

Mravec B., Budzák Š., Medveď M., Pašteka L.F., Slavov C., Saßmannshausen T., Wachtveitl J., Kožíšek J., Hegedüsová L., Filo J., Cigáň M. · Journal of Organic Chemistry · 2021 · DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.1c01174

Phosphate Linkers with Traceable Cyclic Intermediates for Self-Immolation Detection and Monitoring

Procházková E., Šimon P., Straka M., Filo J., Májek M., Cigáň M., Baszczyňski O. · Chemical Communications · 2021 · DOI: 10.1039/D0CC06928K

Effect of Electron-Withdrawing Groups on Molecular Properties of Naphthyl and Anthryl Bithiophenes as Potential n-Type Semiconductors

Feriancová L., Cigáň M., Gmucová K., Kožíšek J., Nádaždy V., Putala M. · New Journal of Chemistry · 2021 · DOI: 10.1039/D1NJ01100F

Unsymmetrical Benzothiazole-Based Dithienylethene Photoswitches

Bovoloni M., Filo J., Sigmundová I., Magdolen P., Budzák Š., Procházková E., Tommasini M., Cigáň M., Bianco A. · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2022 · DOI: 10.1039/D2CP02325C

Photoswitching of 5-Phenylazopyrimidines in Crystalline Powders and Thin Films

Procházková E., Filo J., Mužíková Čechová L., Dračínský M., Císařová I., Janeba Z., Kawamura I., Naito A., Kuběna I., Nádaždy P., Šiffalovič P., Cigáň M. · Dyes and Pigments · 2022 · DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2021.110066

Enhancing the Potential of Fused Heterocycle-Based Triarylhydrazone Photoswitches

Cigáň M., Filo J., Mravec B., Hegedüšová L. · European Chemical Societies Publishing · 2023 · DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303509

Rigidized 3-Aminocoumarins as Fluorescent Probes for Strongly Acidic Environments and Rapid Yeast Vacuolar Lumen Staining

Joniak J., Stankovičová H., Budzák Š., Sýkora M., Gaplovská-Kyselá K., Filo J., Cigáň M. · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2023 · DOI: 10.1039/D3CP01090B

Enhancing the Potential of Fused Heterocycle-Based Triarylhydrazone Photoswitches

Hegedüsová L., Blaise N., Pašteka L.F., Budzák Š., Medveď M., Filo J., Mravec B., Slavov C., Wachtveitl J., Grabarz A.M., Cigáň M. · Chemistry – A European Journal · 2024 · DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303509

Solid-State Photoswitching of Hydrazones Based on Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer

Mravec B., Budzák Š., Medveď M., Pašteka L.F., Lazar P., Procházková E., Růžička A., Kožíšek J., Vegso K., Bodik M., Šiffalovič P., Švec P., Filo J., Cigáň M. · Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2025 · DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c12510

One-Pot Synthesis of Ferrocene Thioamides from Ferrocenecarboxaldehyde via the Willgerodt–Kindler Reaction

Kabzan et al., Cigáň M., Rakovský E., Šebesta R. · European Journal of Organic Chemistry · 2025 · DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202500956

Open Vacancies

Join the Cigáň Research Group

PhD Position — Photoswitch Synthesis & Spectroscopy

4-year fully funded position. Starting October 2026. Requires MSc in organic chemistry.

Filled

Postdoctoral Fellow — Computational Photochemistry

2-year position (ERC-funded). Expertise in TD-DFT and excited-state modelling required.

Filled

Lab Technician — Organic Synthesis

Full-time permanent position. Experience with standard synthetic laboratory techniques required.

Filled

Contact

Get in touch with our group

Cigáň's Research Group

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Department of Organic Chemistry
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Comenius University
Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 3278/6, 842 15 Bratislava

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marek.cigan@uniba.sk
CH2-430

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+421 2 9014 2024

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ORCID · ResearchGate · Google Scholar
https://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-7734-626X